ABSTRACT
That he might be advised of the approach of Almagro, if he should come to him, Pizarro ordered Alonzo Alvarez to station himself in the valley of Mala with thirty horsemen, and take care to see if any letters for the Adelantado, from residents in Lima, or others, came that way; and if so, he was to seize them and let none pass, and should messengers come from Almagro he was not to let them pass until he had read the despatches they carried, and must then report to him fully. With these orders from the Governor, Alonzo Alvarez and his mounted men set out and were in Mala many days, turning out to scour the country round, every day. Don Alonzo Enriquez and the accountant Juan de Guzman, with the others sent by the Adelantado to Lima, came near Mala, where Pizarro's scouts were placed, and set out towards them, for as it was thought certain that the Adelantado would have to descend to the plains, it seemed to them that he must have got there by then; so Alonzo Alvarez, who had his scouts out, and who had heard of the others’ approach from the Indians, rode forward fully armed with all his followers and met them a short half league from the pueblo where they were halted. On meeting they saluted each other courteously, and the accountant Juan de Guzman said, “What lucky meeting is this, Sir, at this place?” Alvarez answered, “We came out to receive you as soon as we knew of your approach.” Don Alonzo Enriquez had not liked their coming at all. He was silent, believing they had come to kill him. Juan de Guzman, observing his plight, said to him, “Put a good face on it, and do not show weakness even if we are going to be killed.” 115Don Alonzo Enriquez answered, “I am going to be killed within half an hour, and you want me to look pleasant?” While saying this they arrived at the lodgings at Mala, where they all dismounted. The men of Chile clearly suspected that they were to be arrested, and they waited to see what Alonzo Alvarez would do. They saw presently that they were surrounded so that none of them could escape. Alonzo Alvarez then said, “Gentlemen, give up your arms, for such is required for the service of God and His Majesty.” Diego Nuñez de Mercado answered, “Why should we give up our arms? We are not willing to do so. For myself I say that I will not give mine up to any of your men, I would rather deliver them to a negro.” Don Alonzo Enriquez and Juan de Guzman, seeing that there was nothing to be gained by resistance, turning to the alcalde Mercado, said that he had better give up his arms, willy-nilly. Nothing was meant by it, since the Governor Pizarro ordered it, and as they were only five they could not defend themselves against thirty. Then they all took off their swords and daggers, and with their own hands threw them towards a stable that was near. Alonzo Alvarez, when he saw that they were disarmed, asked if they had any despatches. Don Alonzo Enriquez and Mercado replied, “The despatches are in charge of Juan de Guzman. Ask him for them and he will give them to you.” Then they told Juan de Guzman to give them up. He said, “There they are in that trunk. I will not give them to you because among them there are letters and despatches for the Emperor. As you say that your Governor has given the order, take them and do what you like with them.” Alonzo Alvarez went straight to the trunk and unfastened it. In spite of the protests of Don Alonzo Enriquez, Mercado, and Guzman he took out all the letters it contained. Juan de Guzman turned to the notary Silva and said, “Bear witness to what has been done that His Majesty may know the force that has been used against us and that, travelling along his high road, they came out against us upon it, and take from us the despatches we are carrying.” Alonzo Alvarez, as soon as he had got possession of the despatches and letters that were in the trunk, told 116the messengers that the Governor Don Francisco Pizarro had instructed him, in the orders he received, that if any gold should come, he was to take it to Lima that the royal officers might register it, so that the King should not lose his fifths. Juan de Guzman then took out some trinkets and a cup marked for its fifth and said, “This is the gold we bring, look at it and see for yourself that it does not need to be marked.” Alonzo Alvarez when he saw that it was true, and that they brought no gold to be marked, replied that he forgot to say that he was ordered to take the marked as well as the unmarked. Juan de Guzman answered, “Then it is clear to me that you come here to rob.” One Cristóbal Pizarro who was present said, “It is you who are the robbers and not us.” Don Alonzo Enriquez, feeling that such remarks were improper and that Cristóbal Pizarro was going too far, said to him, “Do you know to whom you are speaking? It is the accountant Juan de Guzman.” Pizarro replied, “I know you well and him too, and I swear to God if you say another word I will give him a slash across the face and you another.” Don Alonzo Enriquez escaping through the door of the room said, “Give him one, for you will not do it to me.” Alonzo Alvarez told Cristóbal Pizarro to hold his tongue, and, withdrawing himself a little apart from the men of Chile he sent off the despatches he had captured to Don Francisco Pizarro, reporting also to him the arrival of the envoys, and who they were.
